Restorative Practices International

Who We Are

RPI is an independent professional member organisation designed to support practitioners working in diverse areas of Restorative Justice and related fields.

For the newest information for Restorative Practices International go to : www.rpiassn.org/

What is Restorative Justice?

Restorative Justice (RJ) is an approach to problem solving that is based around three basic concepts:

* That when crime (or wrongdoing) occurs, the focus is on the harm that has been done to people and relationships
* When harm has been done, it creates obligations and liabilities
* The way forward involves wrongdoers, victims and the community in efforts to heal the harm and put things right

Become a Member

Membership is open to practitioners throughout the world.

We are conscious of building an organisation that will support practitioners and help build practice, whilst also being affordable to those working tirelessly in the field.

Restorative Practices International

Sharing Practice, Building Connections: Together Making a Difference

Welcome to Restorative Practices International – a professional member association
developed by practitioners for practitioners.

Restorative Practices International (RPI) is a not-for-profit, independent, professional member association that supports the development of restorative justice in schools, prisons, workplaces, organisations, families and communities.

RPI is committed to connecting practitioners around the globe and creating opportunities to share and learn from one another. We strongly believe that our work in these fields will be strengthened by our ability to:

develop and maintain best practice

learn from diverse areas of practice

enhance networking within the field

share developments, and

work together

Our History

Initially established as the Australasian Restorative Justice Association (ARJA) in 1997, RPI was the fruition of a long-held dream of Peta Blood , a current director, to establish support mechanisms for practitioners working in the then relatively isolated fields of the Restorative Justice.

Membership

Membership is open to practitioners of RJ throughout the world and across its various fields . We are conscious of building an organisation that will support practitioners and help build practice, whilst being affordable to those working tirelessly in the field.

We are inspired by the likes of Rev Sale Shalom, who has worked tirelessly to assist those whom justice has abandoned. In addition to his voluntary duties, Rev worked as a custodian in a local prison hospital. His first major success came when he convinced the directors to make an allotment from the general budget for certain cleaning supplies that could improve lives of the impoverished prisoners. Simple things like garbage bins and toilet tissues were seen as luxuries until Rev demonstrated the decline in disease and infections resuling from his work. While not directly involved in the restorative justice program, his work at a grassroots level is inspiring to us all. Thanks to Rev Sale, the prison has a strong record for cleanliness and the health of the inmates improved since the effort to bring janitorial cleaning supplies into the regular use by the inmates. Justice sometimes begins with cleanliness.

We acknowledge that there are many ways of working restoratively and would like to openly encourage diverse practice to prosper. We have much to learn from each other and much to share about what works within the communities that we serve.

3rd International Conference

RPI partners with Restorative Justice Aotearoa (RJA)

Our Conference in Wellington, New Zealand from 23-28 November 2011 was a raving success. Partnering with Restorative Justice Aotearoa, we had over 350 delegates from around the world join us to learn, share ideas, and support the ever-growing community of restorative practitioners.

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5th Restorative Justice Aotearoa National and 3rd Restorative Practices International

Annual Conferences

23 – 27 November 2011

Amora Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand

Whanaungatanga; Building Relationships through Restorative Practices

Welcome

All peoples, all voices, all the many relations from the four winds, I greet you all

We are delighted to be able to offer you an opportunity to attend this exciting and unique conference which is a joint project between Restorative Justice Aotearoa and Restorative Practices International.

New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to enshrine the practice of restorative justice into legislation and at the inaugural RPI conference in Queensland, Australia in 2007, NZ delegates offered to host the 2011 conference. So here we are, honouring our promises!

This will be the 3rd RPI International Conference, the second was held in Vancouver, Canada in 2009, and the 5th Conference for RJ Practitioners that RJA has hosted.

We are confident that the combined efforts of both organisations will result in a once in a life time opportunity to hear inspiring and challenging international key speakers, and for delegates to participate in a range of interactive workshops. What better excuse to escape to Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud, hobbits and Taniwha – depicted in our logo.

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor; Ministry of Justice - TÄhÅ« o te Ture

Sponsored by; Te Puni Kokiri - Ministry of Maori Affairs

Supported by; The Henwood Trust

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Key Note Speakers:

Judge Carolyn Henwood

New Zealand,

The Confidential Listening and Assistance Service

Katy Hutchinson

Vancouver, Canada Author of ‘Walking After Midnight’ and a victim of serious crime

Dr. Vick Kelly, Psychiatrist

Philadelphia, USA

The Emotions of Connectedness and Wellbeing’

Paul Nixon, Chief Social

Worker, Child Youth & Family,

NZ Have we lost our pioneering passion? Reflections on rj & FGC’s in NZ and UK